WOMEN'S WORLD CUP 2023
The Netherlands has inside knowledge of Vilda’s Spain
Damaris Egurrola, the Netherlands’ ‘Spanish’ player, knows Jorge Vilda and many of the La Roja players very well.
Damaris Egurrola could play a key role in Thursday’s quarter final between Spain and the Netherlands. The ‘Spanish’ midfielder will be the great threat to La Roja. Her story is an interesting one - until a few years ago she represented Spain’s mational team shirt as one of the most promising women’s players in in our country.
Damaris made her debut with the Spain in May 2019, aged 19, in a friendly against Cameroon. From that point, everything indicated that she would be become a first-choice in the senior side but she would go on to rebel after not being summoned on several occasions by Jorge Vilda.
She was born in Florida, United States to a Dutch mother and Basque father. The family relocated to Spain when she was seven years old and Damaris showed an early interest in football. She enrolled into Athletic Club’s youth academy and made her senior debut in 2016, and ended the season with a league winners’ medal. Spells in England at Everton, and France with Olympiqie Lyon followed.
In March 2022, she switched allegiances, opting to play for the Oranjes, making her debut the following month. She has since made 20 appearances for the Netherlands and played in last summer’s 2022 Women’s Euro.
From sub to insider
The World Cup quarter final represents a special opportunity for the Olympique Lyon midfielder. She has appeared as a substitute in all four of the team’s games at the tournament but that could change after Van de Donk picked up a yellow card in the Round of 16 clash with South Africa. It means she is suspended and will sit out the game against Spain, with Damaris as her natural replacement.
“Damaris has played with all the Spanish players, she knows them, it will help us a little...”
The final decision lies with coach Andries Jonker, who knows all about Damaris’ links to Spain and her knowledge of Vilda’s team. “She has played with all the Spanish players. This will help us a lot and of course I will talk to her,” the Dutch coach said. Damaris will act as the analyst, passing on information and advice about Paredes, Alexia, Esther and Co.
And more about Aitana, Ona or Misa, with whom he shared successes in both the Under-17 and Under-19. She knows all about Spain’s style of play, their strengths and weakness and the working methods of their coach. Damaris, will be Spain’s great threat on Thursday.